Mercedes-AMG unveils its GT4

Mercedes-AMG unveiled its GT4 on Tuesday ahead of this weekend's 24 Hours of Spa. Based on the Mercedes-AMG GT R, it is the company's third GT car, following the SLS AMG GT3 released in 2010 and the Mercedes-AMG GT3 last year.

"The GT4 segment is getting more and more popular," said Tobias Moers, chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. "The production-based concept is an important factor, especially when you want to get started in motorsport as a team or as a driver. For some teams, the GT4 category also serves as a sensible addition to their existing involvement in GT3, for instance to support young drivers.

"For us as a manufacturer, GT4 competition is a logical next step to extend our Customer Racing Program. After the achievements in GT3 racing, the Mercedes-AMG GT4 is opening another valuable platform for us to prove our competence as a globally successful sports car and performance brand. There is no doubt that we will once again be setting new benchmarks in the segment with the latest member in our Customer Racing Program."

The Mercedes-AMG GT is expected to be delivered to the first customer racing teams at the end of 2017. The manufacturer's involvement in the U.S. is expected to include entries in the IMSA WeatehrTech SportsCar Championship and Pirelli World Challenge.

DTM champion Bernd Schneider, former DTM and World Touring Car driver Thomas Jager and former GT3 European Championship and Rolex Sports Car Series driver Jan Seyffarth have tested the car, which has already passed a 30-hour endurance test at race speed at the Lausitzring, the team says. The Mercedes-AMG GT4 will undergo more than 18,000 additional miles of track testing. Three prototypes will participate in select test races in 2017, run in co-operation with development partner HWA AG and partner teams.

"The SLS AMG GT3 and the Mercedes-AMG GT3 were capable of winning from their very first lap of racing onwards and were able to prove it in an impressive way," said Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing. "That also is the benchmark for the new Mercedes-AMG GT4. Therefore, we have taken the time that was necessary for development and testing to be able to offer a perfect product in the end. We aren't entering a new segment to finish second."

The Mercedes-AMG GT4 is powered by the 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine with direct fuel injection, known from Affalterbach road cars. The front-mid engine production technology allows for long service intervals and also provides sufficient performance reserves for the future. Depending on the balance of performance, this results into an output of up to 375 kW (510 hp) and a maximum torque of over 600 Nm. Like in the Mercedes-AMG GT3, the sequential six-speed competition gearbox in the GT4 is linked to the rear axle in transaxle formation and is pneumatically operated, resulting in a favorable weight distribution and a lower center of gravity.